Utility vehicle

• US 10,124,709 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2016
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Bohnsack, Michael C., Black-Macken, Ryan P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Condra, Darlene P
• Application Number:
  US15/154,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20160332519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/48 not including leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/062 the spring being arranged around the damper B60G15/061, B60G15/067, B60G15/07 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/065 characterised by the use of a combination of springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/14 with lateral arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/156 wishbone-type arm formed by two links defining a virtual apex
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/312 The spring being a wound spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/02 Trucks; Load vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/07 Off-road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/124 Quads
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/02 with a single pivoted arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/20 all arms being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0487 simplified doors related to cabins of, e.g. golf carts, tractors, jeeps, cranes, forklifts, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/06 with air cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 13/02 concerning intake
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 13/04 concerning exhaust collecting exhaust gases with central suction systems not forming part of vehicles, e.g. in workshops or tunnels B08B15/002, otherwise along carriageways E01C1/005; extensions for melting snow on roads E01H5/00, E01H6/00; exhaust or silencing apparatus for internal combustion engines per se F01N; pipes, joints or supports therefor F16L
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/04 characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of gearing electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/06 of change-speed gearing B60K17/10 - B60K17/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/08 of mechanical type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2005/003 the internal combustion or jet propulsion unit is arranged between the front and the rear axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/60 Structural details of dashboards or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/685 : Instruments movable with steering column
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/53 : Movable instruments, e.g. slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 : Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 5/04 : with the engine main axis, e.g. crankshaft axis, transversely to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/01 : Arrangement of seats relative to one another
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/04 : with a tipping movement of load-transporting element dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/20 : Off-Road Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/72 : Continous variable transmissions [CVT]
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/18 : yieldable or adjustable, e.g. tiltable padded linings associated with the steering column B60R21/05
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/183 : specially adapted for sports vehicles, e.g. race, dune buggies, go-karts tubular skeleton B62D23/005
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/02 : Platforms; Open load compartments flat wagons including posts or standards B61D3/08
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/06 : Devices for limiting the opening movement of hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2003/027 : the end knuckles being mutually connected
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/0207 : for attachment to vehicles E05D5/043, E05D5/062 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 : Doors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0416 : Air cooling or ventilation

Abstract

A utility vehicle includes a plurality of ground-engaging members, a frame, a powertrain assembly, a front suspension assembly, and a rear suspension assembly. A cargo bed may be supported by the frame at the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes an operator seat and at least one passenger seat positioned within an operator area. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes doors to enclose the operator area.

Claims

1. A utility vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of ground-engaging members;

a frame supported by the plurality of ground-engaging members;

a powertrain assembly including an engine and a continuously variable transmission supported by the frame;

an operator area supported by the frame and having at least an operator seat including a seat bottom and a seat back configured to support an operator;

a first visual display positioned within the operator area and indicating dynamic vehicle parameters to the operator;

a dashboard assembly positioned within the operator area and forward of the operator seat bottom, the dashboard assembly having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being stationary relative to the frame and the second portion being moveable relative to the first portion;

a storage area within the operator area and laterally spaced from the steering wheel and the operator seat, the storage area being configured for at least one of cargo and a second visual display; and

a steering assembly operably coupled to the plurality of ground engaging members and including a steering column and a steering wheel extending into the operator area, the steering wheel being at least vertically movable between at least a first position and a second position, and the first visual display being configured to move with the steering wheel.

2. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first visual display being supported by the dashboard assembly.

3. The utility vehicle of claim 2, wherein the second portion of the dashboard assembly is moveable with the steering wheel.

4. The utility vehicle of claim 2, wherein an upper surface of the dashboard assembly extends above at least one of the first visual display and the storage area.

5. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first visual display is positioned on the steering column.

6. The utility vehicle of claim 5, further comprising a second storage area positioned rearward of the operator seat.

7. A utility vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of ground-engaging members;

a frame supported by the plurality of ground-engaging members;

a powertrain assembly including an engine and a continuously variable transmission supported by the frame;

an operator area supported by the frame and having at least an operator seat including a seat bottom and a seat back configured to support an operator;

a first visual display positioned within the operator area and indicating dynamic vehicle parameters to the operator;

a second visual display spaced apart from the first visual display;

a storage area within the operator area and laterally spaced from the steering wheel and the operator seat, the storage area being configured for at least one of cargo and the second visual display; and

a steering assembly operably coupled to the plurality of ground engaging members and including a steering column and a steering wheel extending into the operator area, the steering wheel being at least vertically movable between at least a first position and a second position, and the first visual display being configured to move with the steering wheel, wherein the second visual display is fixed in space relative to the steering wheel.

8. A utility vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of ground-engaging members;

a frame supported by the plurality of ground-engaging members;

a powertrain assembly including an engine and a continuously variable transmission supported by the frame;

an operator area supported by the frame and having at least an operator seat including a seat bottom and a seat back configured to support an operator;

a dashboard assembly positioned within the operator area and forward of the operator seat bottom;

at least one visual display supported by the dashboard assembly and positioned below an upper surface of the dashboard assembly; and

a steering assembly operably coupled to the plurality of ground engaging members and including a steering column and a steering wheel extending into the operator area, the steering wheel being at least vertically movable between at least a first position and a second position, and the at least one visual display being in a first position when the steering wheel is in the first position and the at least one visual display being in a second position when the steering wheel is in the second position, wherein the at least one visual display is moveable relative to at least a portion of the dashboard assembly.

9. The utility vehicle of claim 8, wherein the at least one visual display is configured to move in response to movement of the steering wheel.

10. The utility vehicle of claim 8, wherein the at least one visual display is supported on the steering column.

11. The utility vehicle of claim 8, wherein the dashboard assembly includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including the upper surface of the dashboard assembly and the portion of the dashboard assembly, the at least one visual display is moveable relative to and the second portion supporting the at least one visual display.

12. The utility vehicle of claim 11, wherein the second portion of the dashboard assembly is moveable with the at least one visual display relative to the first portion of the dashboard assembly.

13. A utility vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of ground-engaging members;

a frame supported by the plurality of ground-engaging members;

a powertrain assembly including an engine and a continuously variable transmission supported by the frame;

an operator area supported by the frame and having at least an operator seat including a seat bottom and a seat back configured to support an operator;

a dashboard assembly positioned within the operator area and forward of the operator seat bottom, the dashboard including a stationary portion and a movable portion, and the movable portion is configured to move between at least a first position and a second position;

a first visual display supported by the stationary portion of the dashboard assembly and having a first indicator for vehicle parameters;

a second visual display supported by the movable portion of the dashboard assembly and having a second indicator for vehicle parameters, and the second visual display is movable with the movable portion of the dashboard assembly when moving between the first and second positions, and the second visual display is movable with an operator input; and

a steering assembly operably coupled to the plurality of ground engaging members and including a steering column and a steering wheel extending into the operator area, and the steering wheel is configured to move between a first position and a second position, and the operator input is the movement of the steering wheel between the first and second positions.